The basic idea of H2-C mixture reduction reflects the advantages of hydrogen
for fast reaction and low heat absorption in a smelting reduction reactor where hydrogen
is used as the main reducing agent and carbon as the main heat generator on purpose to cut
down the total energy consumption and CO2 emission. This work aimed at the
experimental investigation of the optimal carbon/hydrogen ratio, a key parameter of iron
oxide reduction with mixture reductive agents of carbon and hydrogen. Experiments were
carried out using a pure Al2O3 crucible which was placed in a
tubular furnace for high temperature. Two investigation methods were adopted: one was
injecting an acetylene/hydrogen mixture reducing gas into molten iron oxides, and the
other was blowing hydrogen into an iron bath during continuous feeding of fine ore mixing
solid carbon. Parameters such as the apparent de-oxidation rate and utilization ratio of
reductive agents were calculated from content analysis of the exhaust gas after dust
removal and drying. In the experiments the highest total de-oxidation rate and
satisfactory apparent utilization ratio of hydrogen were obtained under conditions with
temperatures of 1823 K and the carbon/hydrogen ratio in the region of 0.5:1 to 1:1.